The retired Major General has also functioned as a military aviation analyst for CNN.

Better yet, said Michael Miller, an aviation analyst with the Velocity Group in Washington, eliminate assigned seating.

Avianca, though, is seen by aviation analysts as well-positioned for a recovery.

By mid-2001, when business travel slowed in a souring economy, aviation analysts said those projections already seemed exaggerated.

So impressive were the changes, says John Nance, an aviation analyst, that the industry was feeling pleased with itself.

"They fly forever," said Roger King, an aviation analyst at the research firm CreditSights.

The eradication of the airline was seen by aviation analysts as a move to reduce costs and emerge from bankruptcy.

Brian Harris, an aviation analyst at Salomon Smith Barney, said last week that the industry's "progress seems to have stalled."

John J. Nance is an American pilot, aviation analyst, and author.

But some aviation analysts speculate that the 777 and its competitors from Airbus will eventually replace the 747 in its present form.